Seattle cops, anarchists prepare for May Day

LEVI PULKKINEN AND CASEY MCNERTHNE, Seattle Post-Intelligencer

By LEVI PULKKINEN AND CASEY MCNERTHNEY, SEATTLEPI.COM STAFF

Updated 1:30 pm, Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Officers arrest a man that threw a glass jar and hit an officer in his face shield during a May Day rally on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 in downtown Seattle. The rally turned violent when black-clad protesters smashed windows and threw objects at police. One officer was hit in the head with a glass bottle.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Officers arrest a man that threw a glass jar and hit an officer in...

Black-clad protesters break windows on downtown businesses including American Apparel and NikeTown during a May Day rally.

Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Black-clad protesters break windows on downtown businesses...

A Seattle police officer rides past a smoke bomb as black-clad protesters break windows of downtown businesses during a May Day rally in Seattle.
Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

A Seattle police officer rides past a smoke bomb as black-clad...

Black-clad protesters break windows on the old Federal Courthouse building during a May Day rally on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 in downtown Seattle.
Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Seattle Police officers clear an area after black-clad protesters shattered windows during a May Day rally.
Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Seattle Police officers clear an area after black-clad protesters...

People take cover in a building as black-clad protesters shatter nearby windows during a May Day rally on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 in downtown Seattle.
Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

People take cover in a building as black-clad protesters shatter...

A Seattle Police officer extinguishes an incendiary device thrown by a protester during a May Day rally on Tuesday, May 1, 2012 in downtown Seattle. The device appeared to be made from a roll of toilet paper and juice boxes.
Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

A Seattle Police officer extinguishes an incendiary device thrown...

Officers try to clear a an area during a May Day rally on Tuesday. The rally turned violent when black-clad protesters smashed windows and threw objects at police.
Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

A man that was seen hitting an officer in his face shield with a glass jar is taken down by officers during a May Day rally on Tuesday. The rally turned violent when black-clad protesters smashed windows and threw objects at police.
Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

A protester dressed as a cowboy rides a float in the immigrant rights May Day march.
Photo: SOFIA JARAMILLO

A protester dressed as a cowboy rides a float in the immigrant...

Antonia Gonzalez, part of an immigrant rights rally, holds a flag outside the Seattle Federal Building. The immigrant rights rally was largely eclipsed by an earlier violent march by black-clad protesters.
Photo: JOSHUA TRUJILLO

Wednesday marks the anniversary of the May Day riots that caused tens of thousands of dollars damage to Seattle businesses and a black eye for the Seattle Police Department.

This year, police and anarchists are preparing for a long day on Wednesday.

"We have been preparing for this upcoming May Day celebration for a very long time," Sgt. Sean Whitcomb said. "We will have ample officers and police to provide a safe and peaceful environment for those people interested in carrying out their First Amendment rights."

Police are expected to hold a 1 p.m. briefing Monday to elaborate generally on how they'll stop a repeat of last year's damage. Police do not typically give exact specifics on staffing levels and event planning.

On the Puget Sound Anarchists website, group members have posted for solidarity with people who were jailed for refusing to testify before a federal grand jury on the May Day riot and called for a "coordinated week of action" that ends May 1. The site also discusses alleged FBI "harassment" of anarchists.

Last year, Police Chief John Diaz briefed Mayor Mike McGinn on the potential for violence two weeks before the violence, and though police expected a major disturbance. Police used undercover officers and had officers in riot gear near Westlake Center and at other locations.

Diaz blamed commanders who used experimental tactics that involved having officers hang back.

The independent review found the restrained response by officers "damaged the credibility of the police department" and led to the "appearance of inability to protect the downtown."

On May 1, protestors threw paint bombs of florescent green and blood red, damaging businesses and sidewalks near the downtown library. Anarchists turned on photographers, and KING/5 photojournalist Richard Departee was hit in the face with a wood pole. He kept rolling with blood dripping down the left side of his neck. Another reporter, KOMO/4's Joel Moreno, was doused with red paint near Westlake Park that evening.

After anarchists left the former federal courthouse, they turned to windows at Niketown, the Taphouse Grill, American Apparel and other locations – and police moved in faster. The Homestreet Bank in the 1300 block of Sixth Avenue had a large window shattered and a Bank of America in the 500 block of Olive Street had windows shattered during the afternoon rally.

Niketown repairs totaled $52,825.74; the Wells Fargo bank at Fourth Avenue and Seneca Street had at least $25,978.13 in damage and a Verizon Wireless store had $1,905.30 in damage.

Several other businesses, including American Apparel, Home Street Bank and Bank of America had thousands of dollars in damage. Damage to city property and the old federal courthouse also cost tens of thousands of dollars.

But it was primarily the anarchist damage at the old federal courthouse and the Wells Fargo location that moved city leaders to take further action.

At 3:02 p.m., Mayor Mike McGinn signed a proclamation of civil emergency after discussions with other city leaders giving police "the authority to confiscate any weapon or implement reasonably perceived or believed to be capable of being used as a weapon."

In November, King County prosecutors brought charges against five Seattle-area residents accused in the May Day violence.

Among those charged is 24-year-old Phillip Neel, a Leschi neighborhood resident suspected of injuring a police officer during the protest, which authorities claim was turned violent by a small group hoping for destruction.

Prosecutors have also identified the protester caught on camera smashing the downtown Niketown store while wearing a pair of Swooshed shoes as Ballard resident Kellen M. Linnell.

Neel and Linnell, 27, have been charged with felony property destruction, as has Jason J. Michaels, a 29-year-old West Seattle man. Matthew A. Erickson, 26, of Seattle, has been charged with riot, as has Shoreline resident Meaghnn A. Gonzales, 21.

The charges remain outstanding. An arrested warrant has been issued for Linnell. Gonzales pleaded guilty in March and received a deferred sentence.

At the same time, federal authorities appear to continue a wider investigation into a group of anarchists believed to have planned some of the violence.

In a statement filed in federal court in early October, an FBI special agent outlined the allegations against six Portland anarchists suspected of traveling to Seattle for the May 1 demonstration. An FBI surveillance team apparently followed the group north from Portland.

Five of the six protestors are suspected of damaging Seattle's Nakamura Federal Courthouse during the May Day demonstrations. They were joined in the vandalism by seven other anarchists in all black attire, and several unaffiliated demonstrators.

Writing the court, the FBI agent said the protesters came to Seattle to riot.

"Although many anarchists are law-abiding, there is a history in the Pacific Northwest of some anarchists participating in property destruction and other criminal activity in support of their political philosophy," said the agent, who is assigned to the FBI Seattle office's terrorism task force.

The agent went on to name six Oregon residents suspected in the vandalism. All are anarchists known to Portland-area law enforcement; the FBI agent contends text messages and surveillance show they traveled to Seattle for the protest, and, in one case, described the day as "awesome."

At least two vandals have faced minor charges in federal court, and several activists brought before a federal grand jury investigation have been jailed after refusing to testify. But no charges have been publicly laid against those suspected with leading the vandalism of the courthouse.